Feb. 22, 2010
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Notre Dame senior first baseman Casey Martin (Chesterton, Ind.) was named BIG EAST Player of the Week on Monday. Martin paced the Irish offensive attack in a three-game sweep of Mississippi Valley State. It marked Notre Dame’s first 3-0 start since 2004 and its first ever road three-game series sweep to open a season in the 118-year history of Irish baseball.
Martin batted .500 (8-for-16) for the weekend with two home runs and seven RBI. He homered on consecutive days to open the year becoming the first Notre Dame player to do so since Kris Billmaier hit three long balls over the first two games of the 2003 campaign. Martin went 4-for-5 with two runs scored and two RBI in the season opener, 2-for-5 with a solo home run in game two of the series and closed the weekend with a double, run scored and four more RBI (also went 2-for-6). The four RBI were one shy of his career high. Martin registered a .938 slugging percentage and a .529 on-base percentage.
Notre Dame returns to action next weekend at the Big Ten/BIG EAST Baseball Challenge. The Irish will face Illinois (Fri., 4:00 p.m.), Ohio State (Sat., 4:30 p.m.) and Penn State (Sun., 10:00 a.m.). Notre Dame’s tilt with the Illini is scheduled for Jack Russell Stadium in Clearwater. The Irish and Buckeyes will meet at Bright House Networks Field (home of the 2008, 2009 and 2010 BIG EAST Tournaments) in Clearwater. Notre Dame and the Nittany Lions will conclude the challenge at the Naimoli Complex in St. Petersburg.
— ND —